Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how progress for their commitment to deepen links between local and regional governments in the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership is measured and published.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As I saw myself in my visit to Ukraine from 21-24 September, delivery of the UK-Ukraine 100-Year Partnership is a whole-of-government effort, with departments leading on commitments relevant to their responsibilities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) works with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and Devolved Governments to support deeper links between regional and local governments and wants to see more UK and Ukrainian authorities twinned in ways that deliver benefits for communities in both countries. Local authorities have hosted Ukrainian professionals for exchanges of expertise, supported business links, worked on resilient urban development and reconstruction, shared experience on culture and tourism, and donated life-saving equipment. The Government is also encouraging schools, universities and other institutions to build similar links, including through the UK-Ukraine university twinning scheme, which has established more than 100 partnerships. Progress on implementation of the 100-Year Partnership is reviewed through our regular bilateral engagement, including the UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue, and the Government updates Parliament in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with local authorities, fire and rescue authorities, police constabularies, NHS bodies, and other public bodies about barriers to the donation of surplus vehicles and equipment to Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since February 2022, the UK has committed £25.1 billion for Ukraine. In response to Ukraine's requests, the UK has provided 96 ambulances, including 20 NHS ambulances and 76 new vehicles. The UK has also provided vehicles in support of Ukraine's humanitarian and emergency response efforts, including 19 armoured vehicles gifted to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine earlier this year. We continue to work with the Government of Ukraine and relevant partners to understand requirements for vehicles and any practical challenges affecting provision and delivery.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the barriers for public bodies donating surplus vehicles and equipment to Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since February 2022, the UK has committed £25.1 billion for Ukraine. In response to Ukraine's requests, the UK has provided 96 ambulances, including 20 NHS ambulances and 76 new vehicles. The UK has also provided vehicles in support of Ukraine's humanitarian and emergency response efforts, including 19 armoured vehicles gifted to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine earlier this year. We continue to work with the Government of Ukraine and relevant partners to understand requirements for vehicles and any practical challenges affecting provision and delivery.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they have learnt following Russia’s targeting of Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the winter in 2025–26 in relation to aid provided to Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have learned the lesson that early support is vital for Ukraine's winter preparedness and therefore announced £20 million for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund in February. This will deliver equipment such as generators, energy systems, grid protection and emergency power capacity in time for this winter and brings total UK support to the Fund to £173 million since 2022. The Fund directs support to the most urgent needs across Ukraine including to Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy.
Power outages disrupt heating, water, and essential services, creating a risk of humanitarian crisis. The UK has committed almost £577 million for humanitarian support since 2022 and we continue to work with the Ukrainian authorities, UN organisations, and charities to reach the most vulnerable communities.
Finally, enhanced air defence is essential to protecting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The UK recently announced a further £100 million for interceptors and continues to encourage other partners to follow suit.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 9 July (HL Deb col 199GC), when they expect to conclude their consideration of proposals for a public register of UK-Ukraine local and regional partnerships, a municipal partnership platform, a municipal aid corridor, and a local government partnership fund.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As I saw myself in my visit to Ukraine from 21-24 September, delivery of the UK-Ukraine 100-Year Partnership is a whole-of-government effort, with departments leading on commitments relevant to their responsibilities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) works with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and Devolved Governments to support deeper links between regional and local governments and wants to see more UK and Ukrainian authorities twinned in ways that deliver benefits for communities in both countries. Local authorities have hosted Ukrainian professionals for exchanges of expertise, supported business links, worked on resilient urban development and reconstruction, shared experience on culture and tourism, and donated life-saving equipment. The Government is also encouraging schools, universities and other institutions to build similar links, including through the UK-Ukraine university twinning scheme, which has established more than 100 partnerships. Progress on implementation of the 100-Year Partnership is reviewed through our regular bilateral engagement, including the UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue, and the Government updates Parliament in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in implementing proposals to strengthen partnerships between UK local authorities and Ukrainian municipalities under the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As I saw myself in my visit to Ukraine from 21-24 September, delivery of the UK-Ukraine 100-Year Partnership is a whole-of-government effort, with departments leading on commitments relevant to their responsibilities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) works with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and Devolved Governments to support deeper links between regional and local governments and wants to see more UK and Ukrainian authorities twinned in ways that deliver benefits for communities in both countries. Local authorities have hosted Ukrainian professionals for exchanges of expertise, supported business links, worked on resilient urban development and reconstruction, shared experience on culture and tourism, and donated life-saving equipment. The Government is also encouraging schools, universities and other institutions to build similar links, including through the UK-Ukraine university twinning scheme, which has established more than 100 partnerships. Progress on implementation of the 100-Year Partnership is reviewed through our regular bilateral engagement, including the UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue, and the Government updates Parliament in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which department and Minister has responsibility for delivering the commitment under the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership to support deeper links between local and regional governments.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As I saw myself in my visit to Ukraine from 21-24 September, delivery of the UK-Ukraine 100-Year Partnership is a whole-of-government effort, with departments leading on commitments relevant to their responsibilities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) works with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and Devolved Governments to support deeper links between regional and local governments and wants to see more UK and Ukrainian authorities twinned in ways that deliver benefits for communities in both countries. Local authorities have hosted Ukrainian professionals for exchanges of expertise, supported business links, worked on resilient urban development and reconstruction, shared experience on culture and tourism, and donated life-saving equipment. The Government is also encouraging schools, universities and other institutions to build similar links, including through the UK-Ukraine university twinning scheme, which has established more than 100 partnerships. Progress on implementation of the 100-Year Partnership is reviewed through our regular bilateral engagement, including the UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue, and the Government updates Parliament in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what additional steps they are taking to support Ukraine to strengthen its energy resilience before winter, including through generators, distributed energy systems, grid protection and emergency power capacity.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have learned the lesson that early support is vital for Ukraine's winter preparedness and therefore announced £20 million for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund in February. This will deliver equipment such as generators, energy systems, grid protection and emergency power capacity in time for this winter and brings total UK support to the Fund to £173 million since 2022. The Fund directs support to the most urgent needs across Ukraine including to Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy.
Power outages disrupt heating, water, and essential services, creating a risk of humanitarian crisis. The UK has committed almost £577 million for humanitarian support since 2022 and we continue to work with the Ukrainian authorities, UN organisations, and charities to reach the most vulnerable communities.
Finally, enhanced air defence is essential to protecting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The UK recently announced a further £100 million for interceptors and continues to encourage other partners to follow suit.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy to prevent communities from being left without electricity, heating, water or other essential services during extreme cold weather.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have learned the lesson that early support is vital for Ukraine's winter preparedness and therefore announced £20 million for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund in February. This will deliver equipment such as generators, energy systems, grid protection and emergency power capacity in time for this winter and brings total UK support to the Fund to £173 million since 2022. The Fund directs support to the most urgent needs across Ukraine including to Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy.
Power outages disrupt heating, water, and essential services, creating a risk of humanitarian crisis. The UK has committed almost £577 million for humanitarian support since 2022 and we continue to work with the Ukrainian authorities, UN organisations, and charities to reach the most vulnerable communities.
Finally, enhanced air defence is essential to protecting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The UK recently announced a further £100 million for interceptors and continues to encourage other partners to follow suit.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of withdrawing funding for Orbex on the UK's satellite launch capabilities and employment in the aerospace sector.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The UK did not withhold ESA funding from Orbex. The UK subscribed c.£162m to ESA launch programmes in November 2025 and allocated the maximum possible amount of funding to Orbex as per European Space Agency rules and selection criteria. To access further funding the company needed to secure a matched level of private investment, which it was unable to do. Had the company been able to raise the required funding, they would have been able to access the overwhelming majority of this £162m.
The Government made every reasonable effort to support Orbex. This included two cash injections of £20m and £6m last year to support the company to raise further private capital. Space launch is a highly competitive sector, and Orbex was unfortunately not able to maintain pace with European competitors, both in terms of its fundraising and technology.
While Orbex’s situation is disappointing, the Government remains committed to supporting our dynamic space sector, including companies operating out of Scotland such as SaxaVord Spaceport and Rocket Factory Augsburg. Orbex employees were highly skilled, and we understand that many, if not all, Orbex employees have gone on to find alternative employment.